Who is in the room when South Africa's creative economy is decided?
The creative economy cannot thrive while the policies, capital and institutions that shape it remain fragmented. As Creative Cnergy prepares for its 2026 symposium, Collen Dlamini argues that bringing government, investors and creatives into the same room is only the beginning: the real measure of progress is whether coordination leads to practical change.
On 3 September 2025, South Africa's Creative Cnergy symposium returned to Sandton, with the aim of addressing the often fragmented policies shaping the country's creative economy. The event brought together senior government officials from various departments, technology experts, rights holders, and investors. The goal was to confront the silos that currently exist within the sector, where policy development and investment often occur in isolation.
The symposium sought to demonstrate how aligning these different sectors can lead to greater economic impact for the creative sector. Keynote speaker Clive Kenny, an economist from UK-based Frontier Economics, presented case studies from South Korea, highlighting how deliberate policy choices had helped investment follow talent.
This approach demonstrated the potential benefits of better integrating policy and investment decisions. Throughout the symposium, various sessions emphasized the importance of financial literacy and mental health support for creatives. Workshops aimed to help young people better understand the financial aspects of their work and the resources available to them.
The 2025 symposium also placed a strong focus on the role of copyright in the sector. Participants discussed how the law impacts creators, from protecting intellectual property to ensuring fair compensation. There was a call for copyright reform to better serve the needs of creators, particularly in the context of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
The symposium concluded with a call to action, urging policymakers, investors, and other stakeholders to come together and work towards a more aligned and supportive ecosystem for the creative economy. The success of Creative Cnergy 2026 would be measured by the concrete outcomes that emerge from the collaborations and commitments made during the event.
Written by urgent.news from Africa Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
